Interpreting Pakistan's Gwadar Port: International Cooperation and Geostrategy.
Since 2015, China has leased the Gwadar port with Pakistan for 43 years, but what is less known is that Pakistan actually bought the Gwadar port from another country for £3 million. At first, Pakistan encountered difficulties in the construction of the port, but finally decided to hand over the construction rights to China. Was this a wise decision?What is the role of the Gwadar port today?
Pakistan buys Gwadar port.
Gwadar Port is located in the south of Pakistan, adjacent to Iran and about 460 km from the port of Karachi in Pakistan. Strategically located, it is a key gateway to and from the Persian Gulf, guarding the throat of the Arabian Sea in and out of the Persian Gulf, and an important meeting point connecting Central, South and West Asia. However, at first, the Gwadar port did not belong to Pakistan.
In 1792, the Kingdom of Oman granted 800 square kilometres of the Gwadar region to the Omani prince, who regained power and became an Omani enclave. It was not until 1958 that Pakistan bought the Gwadar region from Oman for £3 million.
This huge investment actually reflects the huge potential value of Gwadar Port. Strategically located as a deep-water port, the port is at the intersection of the sea and the inland, providing vital support for ** and transportation.
Pakistan has chosen to cooperate with China.
Pakistan has sought to cooperate with other countries, including the United States, to develop the Gwadar port. However, due to the complexity of the regional situation and the actions of the United States in Afghanistan, the initial cooperation was not successful. In 2013, Pakistan decided to hand over the port operation rights to China.
China's approach to port construction is very different from that of the United States, and China has provided economic and technical assistance while respecting Pakistan's sovereignty. Under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative, the Gwadar port has become an important part of the corridor. The corridor, which connects China's Xinjiang and Gwadar ports and includes roads, railways, pipelines and communication networks, is a key project of the Belt and Road Initiative.
The importance of the Gwadar port.
The Gwadar port plays an important role in addressing the lack of maritime exports from China's western interior. It has become an important link between western China and the world, reducing dependence on the Strait of Malacca and improving energy and security.
This regional cooperation project has a profound impact on the economic development of Central, South and West Asia. It not only strengthens the economic cooperation between China and Pakistan, but also improves the convenience of transportation in the region. U.S. opposition no longer has the power to prevent this regional cooperation.
Epilogue. Overall, the Gwadar port project is of great importance to both China and Pakistan. China has played an active role in construction, providing a huge impetus for regional economic development, and Pakistan has also benefited from it. The continuation of cooperation will bring more opportunities for regional stability and prosperity.